الفهرس 
COVEROnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 121 |  |  |
| | | from | 121 | | |
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the change in the mineral content of enamel after the consumption of different types of bee honey that was collected directly from bee farms as well as commercially available types.
Clover and Citrus honey were gathered from 2 different bee farms and from a local store (commercially available: Imtenan®). All 4 types of honey were analyzed regarding their sugar content (by FTIR) and their pH detected (by pH-meter).
Each type of honey was then combined to a Ration (consisting of Poultry feed and Barley grains). The honey /Ration ratio was 1:1, as well as the Barley grains/Poultry Feed ratio was also 1:1
30 Sprague-Dawley rats, Helwan were used to conduct the experiment. The rats were just weaned (3 weeks old), weighing from 30-35 grams. They were grouped into 5 groups (6 rats per group), 4 of which were according to the type of honey introduced and the 5th was a control group. The food and water were supplied ad libitum for 6 weeks.
The rats were then sacrificed, the mandibles extracted then defleshed and hemisectioned. After that each mandible was sagittally sectioned. Deionized water was used as a transporting medium for all of the specimens to prevent them from dehydration and for standardization between them.
The specimens were then investigated by scanning electron microscope in conjunction with energy dispersive x-ray analysis system (SEM-EDX) for elemental analysis. In most of the specimens, the 1st fissure of the 2nd molar was chosen for mineral content analysis.
The honey analysis clarified that the commercially available types of honey (Imtenan®) were found to be acidic (pH of Clover honey and Citrus honey were 3.92 and 3.97, respectively) with very high levels of sucrose and nearly undetectable levels of fructose. While the honey gathered from bee farms had more satisfying results, where the Clover honey had a pH of 4.69 and had acceptable levels of fructose, glucose and sucrose, while the Citrus honey was more acidic (pH of 3.93) and glucose, sucrose and fructose were well detected.
The results of this study revealed that the mineral content of rat teeth changed dramatically after exposure to different types of bee honey, leading to decrease in the calcium, phosphorus and fluoride content of the enamel in comparison to the control group, indicating the presence of demineralization. The degree of demineralization varied according to the tested types of honey.
There was high statistical significant difference between the control and test groups regarding their calcium mean weight percent. Control group had the highest calcium mean weight percent, followed by groups: B, D, A & C, respectively.
There was high statistical significant difference between the control and test groups regarding the phosphorus mean weight percent. Control group had the highest phosphorus mean weight percent, followed by groups B, A, D & C, respectively.
There was high statistical significant difference between the control and test groups regarding the fluoride mean weight percent. Control group had the highest fluoride mean weight percent, followed by groups B, A, C & D, respectively.